Nineteen-year-old Nigerian innovator, Ifeoluwa Afolayan, has been named one of the top prize winners at the 2025 WE Innovate Grand Final held in the United Kingdom.
Afolayan, currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Design Engineering at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, secured the first prize for her agricultural innovation, Aeropod — developed under her startup, Muju Earth. The Aeropod is a climate-resilient capsule engineered to enrich and aerate soil during heavy rainfall, offering a breakthrough solution for regions facing increasingly erratic weather, such as Nigeria.
The innovation earned her team a €15,000 prize (approximately ₦21.6 million) as part of Imperial College London’s flagship pre-accelerator program supporting women-led ventures.
Developed in collaboration with team members Yuchen Cai, Alex Clark, and Ocean Hu, the project addresses the challenges of intensive farming and climate change by equipping farmers with sustainable tools for soil regeneration.
“I’m incredibly honoured to be part of WE Innovate and to win first prize,” Afolayan said. “This initiative has the power to revolutionise agriculture in Nigeria, helping farmers adapt to climate change and ensuring food security for future generations.”
The WE Innovate program, an initiative of Imperial College London, supports female entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and resources to scale their ventures.
Looking ahead, Afolayan revealed plans to partner with a Nigerian agricultural firm to introduce climate-resilient farming practices and advanced crop management systems.
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“This achievement is a testament to the power of innovation and resilience,” she said. “Our goal is to transform agriculture in Nigeria into a more sustainable and climate-proof system. With the right partnerships and continued support, we can create lasting change that benefits farmers and helps safeguard our planet.”
